Author Topic: Lookin for some HONEST encore info (Read 2966 times)

fox fire · « **on:** December 16, 2009, 02:47:08 PM »

I've wanted an encore for quite a while and may have found my deal, but before I take the plunge I want to know about the quirks that they mite have, does the hinge pin mess wit the accuracy as far as wear or maybe anything else??? Does swapping the barrel have any problems, or do they work flawless???

Why I'm askin is because I've had sevral of the handi rifles and ther ok but have ther hang ups ( barrel shimming, hinge pin issues, extracter problems) and just curious if the encore had any of thes issues?

I realy like my single shots and dont want to go back to a bolt gun but I mite because of nit picky little hang ups, if ya pay good cash for somthin it shouldnt come with inherant problems but I know most guns need to be fine tuned, but I dont like buy'n a hassle.

David D. · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2009, 03:03:34 PM »

I personally cant see a hinge pin really causing much wear and have never found this a problem. Never had a problem occur from swapping barrels. But like most firearms to get the full potential it will probably need fine tuning. But like anything that is mass produced there can be problems. I have found TC's customer service to be extremely good any time I have had their need.

one eye joe · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2009, 03:07:52 PM »

I am no expert by any means, but here are my thoughts. Any part has tolerances, so any combination could possibly create a great or not so good fit. My barrel (only have one right now) had a small headspace problem. This can be easily cured if you reload. Accuracy is fine, and as you are aware of, single shots are compact and handy. Trigger is easy to work on and range from very good to mediocre. Interchangability and possible variety are endless. Overall, it is a good system, although overpriced IMO. Most of the hinge problems are more imagined than real, although they can/do exist. Most barrels are plenty accurate. Again, remember that you are working with several pieces machined at different times all with +/- tolerances. You stand a fair chance of getting a great, tight fit, and also a chance of getting a set up having some slop. You just have to realize the inherent design factors and decide if you are willing to deal with any problems that might arise.

You can buy any off the shelf rifle of any manufacturer and stand the possibility of getting a super accurate one, or one needing some attention to make it work to it's best ability. The single shots with interchangeable barrels just add a few extra built in areas that might need that attention.

Keith L · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2009, 04:02:36 PM »

There are people who made a cottage industry out of creating fixes for problems that don't exist with Contenders and Encores. And they have an army of converts out there convincing people they need the bits and pieces to make their guns shoot.

I have Contenders, not Encores so YMMV. I like about a 2 pound trigger pull. You may have to have some work done (or do it yourself) to get that. I float my barrels with strips of shotgun shell. I carefully mount my scopes and use good mounts and glass. And all mine shoot great.

Drollerindy · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2009, 04:29:45 PM »

The only quirk I found on mine was that putting rubber "O" rings between the barrel and the fore-end shrank the group size.

Doug

fox fire · « **Reply #5 on:** December 16, 2009, 05:06:33 PM »

Like I said I've had a couple of the handis and they had a few hang ups, the first one I bought new and it shot great for a couple years then it got to wher it would shoot all over, never di dfind out why, second one was used and the barrel fit was pretty loose, you could see a gap between the reciever and the barrel, I finally got it shimmed up but considering the gun probably wasnt over 4 years old ( according to the ser.num.) it shouldnt be in that shape.
I was just curious about the encores, I would love to have one but hate to get somthing problematic rite out of the box.

Grumulkin · « **Reply #6 on:** December 16, 2009, 06:47:33 PM »

I have several Encores. I use oversized hinge pins with some barrels. I swap bunches barrels at will with no problems and most of my hunting has been done with them. I guess you could say that I really like them.

buckmaster68 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2009, 12:45:33 AM »

I will just add that you get what you pay for. The encore is 3 or 4 times the gun that the Handi is in my opinion. Have had no troubles with any of mine.

scratcherky · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2009, 01:23:45 AM »

There are numerous threads regarding headspace problems with the Encore that you should research and determine if you can accept this problem which does cause headaches when shooting factory ammo. If you reload most headspace problems can be corrected readily.

Grumulkin · « **Reply #9 on:** December 17, 2009, 02:34:13 AM »

Quote from: scratcherky on December 17, 2009, 01:23:45 AM

There are numerous threads regarding headspace problems with the Encore that you should research and determine if you can accept this problem which does cause headaches when shooting factory ammo. If you reload most headspace problems can be corrected readily.

Just curious? Exactly where are the "numerous threads" on headspace problems? Granted, there are a few but I wouldn't classify them as numerous and ANY gun can have a headspace problem. Also, interestingly, with 3 frames and at least 30 barrels over the years, I haven't yet had a headspace problem.

scratcherky · « **Reply #10 on:** December 17, 2009, 06:10:13 AM »

There are certainly more tha a few threads on the subject and if you shoot factory ammo you have been very fortunate if you have not experienced headspace problems. As I said, if you reload most can be compensated for, however if you shoot factory ammo and have a problem your only recourse is to send the gun bach to TC to get it corrected and shipping costs are expensive.

Encore28 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2009, 10:03:47 AM »

Quote from: buckmaster68 on December 17, 2009, 12:45:33 AM

I will just add that you get what you pay for. The encore is 3 or 4 times the gun that the Handi is in my opinion. Have had no troubles with any of mine.

Buckmaster
You said it all!!!!!!!
I love my Encores----Ready to add another one over the Winter

Encore28

bolewine · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2009, 10:58:32 AM »

My new pro hunter right out of the box in .223 shot 1/4 inch groups using factory Hornady 55gr. ammo with all the hinge pin and head space issues I think this is pretty good. next I'll try to create some problems with a new 7mm rem mag barrel. witch I hand load for my weatherby now cant wait to throw that gun in the safe so I can deal with all the problems with my encore. buy the way I would not insult my gun collection with a handy rifle the only thing it would be handy for is to pry the safe door open if I get locked out!!
Comparing ahandy rifle to a Thompson encore is like comparing Miss America to a crack whore get it? jump in buy one you will never regret it

Idaho_Elk_Huntr · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2009, 05:51:32 PM »

What sucks is I have 7 barrels waiting on scopes. Fork out $200-$500 for a barrel and then equip it with a Leupold and it gets costly

Grumulkin · « **Reply #14 on:** December 17, 2009, 06:04:06 PM »

Quote from: Idaho_Elk_Huntr on December 17, 2009, 05:51:32 PM

What sucks is I have 7 barrels waiting on scopes. Fork out $200-$500 for a barrel and then equip it with a Leupold and it gets costly

I had the same problem except worse. I now use Warne bases on my Encore and Contender barrels and Warne QD rings on my scopes. That way, when I put a barrel away for awhile in favor of another one, I easily remove the scope and put it on the barrel I'll be using. Barrels without scopes also take up much less room in the gun safe.

stubshaft · « **Reply #15 on:** December 17, 2009, 06:11:01 PM »

Quote from: buckmaster68 on December 17, 2009, 12:45:33 AM

I will just add that you get what you pay for. The encore is 3 or 4 times the gun that the Handi is in my opinion. Have had no troubles with any of mine.

I'll second that sentiment!

skarke · « **Reply #16 on:** December 17, 2009, 06:33:27 PM »

Just FYI on break opens. There should be a barrel to frame gap, at least a little. The only barrel that I've ever owned for Contender or Encore that wouldn't shoot was one that would lock up to the frame, but had no gap. This barrel produced pretty radical vertical stringing. When I got out my trusty, brand new, super sharp swiss pattern file and shaved off enough to produce a .002 gap, the groups shrunk from about 3 inches vertically to less than an inch in 7 08 rifle barrel.

A little Brownells cold blue works great on the white steel, just dont get it too shiny before blueing or the blue won't take.

BTW, just because a barrel doesn't have a barrel to frame gap doesn't mean that it won't shoot. But, if it doesn't, this is often the culprit. An easy test is to take a piece of tin foil and close the action on it. The foil should slide out.

youthpastorjon · « **Reply #17 on:** December 18, 2009, 02:26:03 AM »

The only downside you'll find with the Encore is you will find yourself constantly shopping for another barrel. It isn't that you even need the barrel. But man, how cool would it be to be able to shoot that caliber:) I love my encore. Swapping barrels is a peice of cake. Its like a different high end gun every time I change barrel configurations!

Jay, Tx · « **Reply #18 on:** December 18, 2009, 05:38:46 PM »

Quote from: youthpastorjon on December 18, 2009, 02:26:03 AM

The only downside you'll find with the Encore is you will find yourself constantly shopping for another barrel. It isn't that you even need the barrel. But man, how cool would it be to be able to shoot that caliber:) I love my encore. Swapping barrels is a peice of cake. Its like a different high end gun every time I change barrel configurations!

No more truthful statement has been made. I got my first Encore almost three months ago. Have fired less than 100 rounds through it total, 3 of those took deer (one of these was about 4 hours ago), 1 missed an Elk (shooter error). I find myself logging in here at least once a day just to check the classifieds and see what's up for sale. So many calibers I really can't choose what I want next. Once the holidays get behind me I'm gonna be hoarding barrels like nobody's business. I just hope SWFA has a volume discount on optics.

fox fire · « **Reply #19 on:** December 19, 2009, 03:59:54 AM »

Soundin better all the time.

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 19, 2009, 06:11:49 AM »

fox fire, As single shot lovers we are mostly just "tinkerers" by nature and therefore we've got to have some sort of problem to be tinkering with on our guns. A lot, if not most, of the problems we (and I definately include myself in this)set out to cure are located more between the left and right ear than between the muzzle and the butt plate. If we had so much problem with our TC's or Handi's or whatever, we wouldn't have'm and wouldn't be here talking 'bout'm. As an owner of both TC Encore and Handi I think I would sum up the difference between(if I was limited to one word) the two as consistancy.
Now, if I stepped on some sensitive toes here...I do apologise....but I says it, like I sees it.

Walt

Keith L · « **Reply #21 on:** December 19, 2009, 07:30:50 AM »

Listen to Walt. Walt and I know the magic of shotgun shell shims.

Anyway, it couldn't be on the internet if it wasn't true...

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #22 on:** December 19, 2009, 07:39:36 AM »

Absolute magic.....no doubt about it. Somehow Keith I thought you might remember that after my last post. Sometimes, especially around Christmas, you get exactly what you ask for

.

See what I mean about the part between the ears!

.

Keith L · « **Reply #23 on:** December 19, 2009, 09:36:49 AM »

And what fun would it be without the tinkering.

Hopalong7 · « **Reply #24 on:** December 19, 2009, 11:52:42 AM »

My point exactly!

mirage1988 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 19, 2009, 12:14:30 PM »

Stopped at a gunshop today, they have a stainless encore with a custom thumbhole stock, and three custom (not TC) in .270, 25-06, and .338 mag bull barrel for 1299.00, selling as a set. I sure wish I had some xtra cash right now

Quote from: youthpastorjon on December 18, 2009, 02:26:03 AM

The only downside you'll find with the Encore is you will find yourself constantly shopping for another barrel. It isn't that you even need the barrel. But man, how cool would it be to be able to shoot that caliber:) I love my encore. Swapping barrels is a peice of cake. Its like a different high end gun every time I change barrel configurations!

fox fire · « **Reply #26 on:** December 20, 2009, 10:57:38 AM »

Rather fond of tinkerin with my toys also, but tinkerin is one thing and havin to figure out whats causin a problem is another.
Tinkerin makes it intersetin to me, dont matter what gun it is, and constantly wantin another gun, my wife got me a small air compresor for Christmas and I'm like that could have been a good start on another gun, she said you have enuf guns, I told her you can never have enuf guns.

flinginairos · « **Reply #27 on:** December 20, 2009, 04:11:19 PM »

I have had mine for a while now and I honestly love it. I originally bought it with the .50 cal barrel and picked up a 7mm-08 barrel for it last spring. Both barrels will shoot under 1" at 100 yards. I do shoot reloads in the 7-08 but it will still shoot some factory ammo around an 1". I did buy a 1X oversized pin for the 7-08 but that is it. I havent free-floated the forearm or anything. I can switch barrels with no change of impact. I killed three deer with it this year. I shot a buck on Saturday at over 120 yards with the .50 cal through thick brush and blowing snow and he didnt go 10 feet

Tn Jim · « **Reply #28 on:** January 05, 2010, 06:23:53 AM »

I free floated my rifle forearm (7-08 and 45-70) with a Dremel. It's synthetic, not wood. Just go slow and remove any material inside the forearm that makes contact with the barrel. I can do the dollar bill check along the whole barrel, except for where the forearm screws are. I got tired of the washers I was using moving around.

I can't say anything about factory ammo accuracy because I have only fired my handloads since day one. The 50 MZ and the 7-08 will do 1" or less. The 45-70 I'm still working on, but it looks promising. My Encore is my favorite rifle. I still like my 700 BDL, but it has pretty much sat in my safe since the Encore showed up.

nomosendero · « **Reply #29 on:** January 05, 2010, 05:04:28 PM »

Quote from: Tn Jim on January 05, 2010, 06:23:53 AM

I free floated my rifle forearm (7-08 and 45-70) with a Dremel. It's synthetic, not wood. Just go slow and remove any material inside the forearm that makes contact with the barrel. I can do the dollar bill check along the whole barrel, except for where the forearm screws are. I got tired of the washers I was using moving around.

I can't say anything about factory ammo accuracy because I have only fired my handloads since day one. The 50 MZ and the 7-08 will do 1" or less. The 45-70 I'm still working on, but it looks promising. My Encore is my favorite rifle. I still like my 700 BDL, but it has pretty much sat in my safe since the Encore showed up.

I understand the "floating" part, but did you do about the washers moving.